From Mike Schlemmer, President Trade My Gun Inc:
“TradeMyGun.com is excited to be a PSP Silver Sponsor for the 2015 season! This is our 9th year attending PSP events and to show APPRECIATION to all PLAYERS, we are happy to announce our FREE LOANER GUN PROGRAM – we will offer FREE BACK UP GUNS to any PSP player in need. Simply* come by our trailer with your team captain and we’ll loan you a gun that meets your sponsorship brand requirements.

]]>http://pspevents.com/2015/03/trademygun-com-silver-sponsor-of-the-psp-2015/feed/0PSP Kill Count Leaders – 2014http://pspevents.com/2015/02/psp-kill-count-leaders-2014/
http://pspevents.com/2015/02/psp-kill-count-leaders-2014/#commentsSat, 21 Feb 2015 21:37:57 +0000http://pspevents.com/?p=6191Read More]]>The 2015 PSP Season opener in Dallas is rapidly approaching; the battle begins March 13th -15th. With all the dramatic stories we watched unfold last season, with all the changes to the rules this season, and with the new pro teams and offseason roster moves for the top teams, there is little doubt we are in for an entertaining PSP season. Let’s talk a look at the 2014 leaders in Kill Count category. With the rule changes, it’s anyone’s guess who the top players will be this season, but the smart money on these top 5 killers from 2014.

Though only one element of a player’s G-Rating (average kills per point), the kill count is still the backbone of paintball competition; it’s what our sport is built around.

Behold, the top killers, ranked 1st -5th, of the 2014 PSP season.

Ranked 5th Trevor Resar – Los Angeles Infamous (2014 Vicious)

Points played: 199 Kills: 135 G-Rating: 0.68

Resar played with a furious intensity every time he got out on the field in 2014, looking like a player who wanted to prove himself. He did exactly that by being fearless up the middle, and after Vicious decided to end their team’s run, Resar became a member of Infamous for this PSP season. His energetic play carried him through 199 points in 5 events (Vicious never went to the Challengers Division last year). The question for Infamous is that Damien Ryan and Resar play a similar style and position. It shouldn’t be a huge issue though, as both players are very versatile, which gives Coach Travis Lemanski many options, especially with the other weapons available to Infamous. The upside potential for Trevor Resar and his new team are considerable, and though Infamous underperformed last year, they will be a favorite in 2015.

Ranked 4th Jason Edwards – Tampa Bay Damage

Points played: 174 Kills: 139 G-Rating: 0.80

Though Damage didn’t win an event in 2014, they stayed near the top of the pack after a very close call at the first event last season, where they finished 7th. They only stayed in the Champions Division because of Jason Edwards, who shot 5 of his 139 confirmed kills from the 2014 season during one relegation game overtime point in Dallas a year ago. Edwards continued his run as one of the most dominant players in the game throughout last year. Edwards is the lone back player on this list, but his mastery of the gunfight, ability to win low body points, and shoot opponents off the break, earned him the 139 kills he need to get noticed yet again as one of the best killers in paintball.

Ranked 3rd Archie Montemayor – San Antonio X-Factor

Points played: 136 Kills: 140 G-Rating: 1.03

As the winner of the overall Top Gun Award, Archie Montemayor had a great season, but he wasn’t able to guide his team to a win in 2014. X-Factor even dropped down to the Challengers Division mid season, but was able to work their way back up at the West Coast Open. But though the team underperformed as a whole, Montemayor was in fine form all season long, arguably playing the best paintball of his long career. Archie’s ability to play well down bodies, be an emotional leader, and produce kills is second to none in the paintball world. The new rules will help all skilled players, but Archie is a leading favorite to win the Top Gun again. They just aren’t many players on any team who can match his unique skill set and mental toughness.

Ranked 2nd Marcello Margott – LA Ironmen

Points Played: 179 Kills: 153 G-Rating: 0.85

Few players are as valuable to their squads as Marcello Margott is to the Ironmen, and this season, with the loss of Alex Goldman (Infamous) and Alex Rodriquez (Dynasty), Margott will have even more pressure on his shoulders than ever before. In the three years PBA has been keeping stats Margott has finished second place three times in row in the Top Gun title race. No one in the game, even the select few who have won the Top Gun title, have played as consistent as Margott for the past 3 years. His calm and aggressive style has paid dividends and gained him the respect of both peers and fans alike. This season will be a big test for him, but he has publicly embraced the quest to take the Ironmen back to prominence. It’s been over 5 years since they’ve seen a PSP finals match. Also one of the best one-on-one players and a great gunfighter, the new rules should help Marcello have yet another high-ranking year.

Ranked 1st Justin Rabackoff – Edmonton Impact

Points played: 218 Kills: 156 G-Rating: 0.72

With both an artist’s flare for creativity and a pitbull’s sense of aggression Justin Rabackoff has become one of the best paintball players in the world. 2014 was a banner year for his current team, Edmonton Impact. They won the PSP Series Title against a very strong field, with many players from their team stepping up. Though the team was build around stars from all over the States and Canada, Rabackoff and his PSP league leading 156 kills stood out. Rabackoff, a second generation pro paintball player, was bred to play this game, getting in points and practicing against pros when he was only 12 years old. But though he could have easily just rode his father’s coattails, his will to win and his ability to make aggressive plays in big games have carved out a space of his own and pushed his family name, and the teams he been on, further than ever. Impact has never been more stacked than they are this year, but it’s a given Rabackoff will be one of their best weapons.

Make sure tune into paintballaccess.com March 13th -15th to watch the best players in paintball battle at the first stop on the PSP tour!

]]>http://pspevents.com/2015/02/psp-kill-count-leaders-2014/feed/02015 Dallas Open Layout – Divisional Teamshttp://pspevents.com/2015/02/dallas-open-layout-divisional-teams/
http://pspevents.com/2015/02/dallas-open-layout-divisional-teams/#commentsWed, 18 Feb 2015 23:59:12 +0000http://pspevents.com/?p=6167The first layout of 2015 is here! This brand new field layout will be used on all divisional fields at the 2015 PSP Dallas Open.

Pro teams will be using a different layout which will be released on Thursday March 12th.

]]>http://pspevents.com/2015/02/dallas-open-layout-divisional-teams/feed/0Trevor Resar to Infamous – Interviewhttp://pspevents.com/2015/02/trevor-resar-to-infamous-interview/
http://pspevents.com/2015/02/trevor-resar-to-infamous-interview/#commentsWed, 18 Feb 2015 17:31:14 +0000http://pspevents.com/?p=6163Read More]]>Trevor Resar, formerly of Omaha Vicious, was picked up last month by Los Angeles Infamous. So far, Resar is the sole member of the legendary Midwest Vicious camp who is still determined to continue his professional paintball quest in 2015. Vicious finished near the top of the Champs Division last year, taking 4th overall. Matty Marshall checks in with him to talk about his new team, the upcoming season, and his journey to pro paintball. Make sure to watch the PSP Dallas Open March 13th – 15th on paintballaccess.com to watch Infamous’ new squad battle against the best teams in the world.

Wow, what a whirlwind offseason for you. First, the team you’ve been on for a while, Omaha Vicious folds, which makes you an instant free agent. Then the team you were going to transition to, Tampa Bay Damage, also folds, but then reforms with no imported talent, and you’re again looking for a team. Talk to us about how hard this off-season was for you and how it all went down.

I think “folds” is an awfully harsh word when talking about Vicious. We were all prepared, and knew that World Cup would be the last event for the team. Real life caught up with everyone, and it made sense for the team and its players to retire. It wasn’t a money or a sponsorship problem, it wasn’t a falling out or personality issue, it was just that the timeline for the team had come to an end. With a team that was so close to each other, like Vicious was (and still is) it makes sense for the story to end with the team and its players. Not a continuation of the name with a hodge-podge mix of players who didn’t understand the dynamic of the team. That is why the Vicious name wasn’t passed on to someone else to run, something that I completely agree with.

I knew that I still wanted to play though. Damage, among some other teams, started to contact me, as early as the day after the event while I was flying home. After a few talks back and forth, I had to come to an agreement with Damage and was told I had a spot on the team. It was just as much a surprise to me as it was to everyone else when the announcement came that Damage would be retiring as well.

Didn’t mean it to come off as ‘awfully harsh’. But it is what it is. Did you think about calling it quits like the rest of the guys from Vicious when that call came, or did you know right away you were going to continue your paintball career?

It was a tough decision. Everyone involved in the Vicious organization is like family to me. It would have made sense to end my career with them. But I had one of my best years personally last season, and still wanting to push myself and see how much I can grow as a player. So I made the decision to continue playing.

How did you decide on Infamous? Where there any other teams in the mix?

After Damage made the announcement, a few teams that I had spoke with earlier in the off-season contacted me again. I talked quite a bit with Travis (owner and coach), Drew (Templeton), Kali and Damian (Ryan). Infamous has been around for a long time, and seems to be a good fit for both myself and Infamous. They have a very solid core group who have played together for some time. The team is full of smart, fast, diverse players. I’m very excited to be a part of it. I’m looking forward to learning a lot from the team as well. Damian played a similar role on Infamous as I did for Vicious. We met each other in the middle quite a bit at the Dallas event finals match. I’m always trying to learn from players, and to get the chance to play along side this group and pick their brains on the game; it seemed like an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.

How do you feel you’re going to fit in with guys from Infamous? Do you have any history with them at all? Infamous is pretty full of players who have been with the team for awhile, where do you see yourself working in and what do you think it will be like going to team who’s been together for so long?

I think that I’ll still play a similar role to what I was playing on Vicious, a 2 or a 3 with an option up the middle or an option to a strong or weak side. With no coaching, I’m really looking forward to playing the option. I’ve always played a sneaky/thinking game, and I think the new rules will let me show more of that. But with that being said, if Infamous needs me in a different spot, I’m there to do whatever job they need done.

It’s always different coming into a team that has such a tightly meshed group, but we all seem to be getting along, and we all have the same mindset for the year: Win. I think there will be a slight transition, and learning curve for me to learn the team and their tendencies, and vice versa for the team to learn mine, but it will be something we get down very quick I’m sure.

You had really started to get on everyone’s radar while competing with Vicious, you became known as a guy who would constantly push the action, and produce kills. How do you look at the game and your roll on the field?

I really started to roll the dice last year verses years previous. Todd Martinez (Vicious’ coach) put me in a spot that I was very comfortable in, and more or less let me take off with it from there. I got to see the break out, pick a side to shoot, and make decisions from there. Todd really helped me expand my game in that area over the course of the year, and I got to break games open, speed games up, slow games down, and really develop/evolve with whichever direction the match was going. Overall I think playing the 2 or 3 (2nd or 3rd attacker) really rounded me out and helped diversify my game.

Where did you come up from, what’s your paintball story? How did you get to this position?

I come from a suburb of Oklahoma City, where national level paintball never really got a foothold in my “generation” of paintball. So early on I recognized that I needed to travel outside of the state to get to that next step in my career. People like Ryan Gray (Owner of Texas Storm and Avid Paintball) and John Hubbard really helped me do that in the beginning of my career, and steered me to Texas, which had a much larger tournament scene. I eventually ended up on Texas Storm. We played a few years in the PSP, and from there I tried out for X-Factor. I played a year with X-Factor, and found my way on to Vicious. While with Vicious, I guested for Manchester Firm in Europe, and played several years in Canada.

How much more room do you feel you have to grow as a player? I agree you’ve really starting to grow as an attacker, and you were one of the guys I really wanted to see more of, so I’m glad you’re still in the grind.

At this point, I really think the sky is the limit. I’m putting in a lot of work to be the best I can be, and I’m trying to soak up as much knowledge from everyone I come in contact with. Everyone has their own way of viewing the game, and everyone has different styles. I’m trying to take all of this in and process it in a way where I can expand myself as a player.

Your game is very much based on quick moves, since there will be less paint coming your way with the new gun rules do you think it will help your game?

I think so. Obviously less paint in the air gives you more of an opportunity to take risks. I’m looking forward to out think players this year, making quick short moves, and putting myself in a position to take quick shots.

Any advice for guys out there who want to be in your shoes one day?

Don’t let your ego get in the way of you learning the game. Too often I see younger, and older players set in their ways and not take advice, or take the time to learn from someone else. Every one has a different point of view on situations in this game, and it is such a young sport that everyone is still learning and evolving with it. Take in as much information as you can and then go out and try it for yourself. I think you will surprise yourself how fast you will develop that way.

Mark your calendars for March 13th-15th when Trevor Resar, LA Infamous, and the rest of the best paintball players in the world battle to see who will reign supreme in 2015! The PSP Dallas Open starts in under a month, don’t miss it!

Lawrenceville, Georgia – February 14, 2015. First and foremost, the PSP would like to apologize for any unintended confusion to our players, supporters and sponsors. At this point we would like to clear the air for the 2015 season.

There will be no new restrictions for any equipment used by divisional teams (including divisional teams competing Sunday on the Pro Field). Regardless of whether the manufacturer of your product is a sponsor of the PSP or not, you will be able to use your equipment, just as you have in previous years.

Secondly, the sponsorship packages created in 2015 were, for the first time, designed to integrate all marketing elements of the PSP and the live webcast. These packages were designed for all companies, large and small, to take full advantage of the massive marketing power of the PSP network. With the primary focus being the matches appearing on the Pro Field and thus the webcast, it is critically important for the PSP to provide true and equitable value to all of our sponsors.

When other leagues were folding and other paintball companies were choosing not to help the teams, the players and our league, the PSP and its supporters dug deep and saved competitive paintball at its highest level, pushing forward and growing despite the worst economic conditions seen since the Great Depression. We did this because we all started as players, because we love the game, so we fought to keep it alive. Our customers, the players, are vitally important to us, which is why we’ve worked so hard over the years, and continue to do so, in building a great place to play paintball.

The PSP has always taken feedback from our player base, coaches and parents to heart. For over 20 years the PSP has been dedicated to the growth of our industry and representing our sport in the best public light possible. Our goal has been, and will continue to be, to provide the best showcase of competitive paintball in the world.

The PSP appreciates the constant support of Planet Eclipse and looks forward to helping promote their fantastic line of paintball equipment to the paintball teams and players that compete around the world.

]]>http://pspevents.com/2015/02/planet-eclipse-platinum-sponsor-of-the-psp-2015/feed/0Podcast #074: w/ Steve Rabackoffhttp://pspevents.com/2015/02/5993/
http://pspevents.com/2015/02/5993/#commentsThu, 05 Feb 2015 03:05:21 +0000http://pspevents.com/?p=5993LISTEN VIA ITUNESSUBSCRIBERSSDOWNLOAD
DESCRIPTION:
Steve Rabackoff has played with some of the biggest teams ever to walk onto a paintball field, and helped evolve the sport. Matty talks with him about his history, the 2015 season, and his thoughts on the game.